Sensitisation to Lepisma saccharina (silverfish) in children with respiratory allergy.
BACKGROUND
Lepisma saccharina (silverfish) is a common insect which is often found in human dwellings. Our aim was to determine the IgE antibody pattern to this arthropod in children with allergic respiratory symptoms.


METHODS
The individual sera and a pool of selected sera of 45 children with asthma and/or rhinitis were used for an immunoblotting test with an extract of Lepisma saccharina; an immunoblotting inhibition test was performed with extracts of L. saccharina, D. pteronyssinus and cockroach.


RESULTS
Between one and ten IgE binding bands were found in the sera of patients. The immunoblotting pattern was clearly different from that of D. pteronyssinus. Inhibition was found with D. pteronys-sinus and cockroach, which proves cross-reactivity between extracts.


CONCLUSIONS
Allergenicity of Lepisma is demonstrated through in vitro tests. A pathogenic role still remains to be proved, but it should be considered in respiratory allergy, due to primary sensitisation to Lepisma, or to cross-reactivity with other indoor allergens.
Boquete
M
M
Services of Pediatrics and Allergy. Hospital Xeral Calde. Lugo. España, Spain.
Pineda
F
F
Mazon
A
A
Garcia
A
A
Oliver
F
F
Colomer
N
N
Pamies
R
R
Millan
C
C
Millan Olmo
C
C
Caballero
L
L
Prieto
L
L
Nieto
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D007313:Insecta / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E